Daughter of the Austrian painter of Belgian descent Karl von
Merode (1853-1909). She studied dance and debuted aged eleven.
She had a glamorous career and her picture was on postcards.
The sculpture "The Dancer" (Musée d'Orsay, Paris) by A. Falguière
was modelled on her.

In 1896 king Leopold II of Belgium
saw her as Phrynee in the ballet company of the opera of Bordeaux
and it was reported that she became his mistress. He was 66
at the time. There was no evidence of an affair except a bouquet
of red roses, but their so called affair was widely publicized.
The scandal didn't stop her from becoming an international star.
She toured Europe and the United States and she danced at the
Folies Bergères, a thing that most serious dancers didn't dare.

In
Vienna she attracted the attention of Gustav Klimt. In 1926
she appeared in the German movie "Frauen der Leidenschaft".
She danced until she was fifty and then she retired to Biarritz.
In 1955 she published an autobiography, "La Ballet de ma vie".